Bajaj’s sporty-looking N125 faces off against two proven competitors.
The Bajaj Pulsar N125 goes up against some very popular machines, the Hero Xtreme 125R and the TVS Raider. While a comparison is certainly brewing, here’s how these three motorcycles stack up against each other on paper.
Bajaj Pulsar N125 vs rivals: engine & output
| Engine & output | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bajaj Pulsar N125 | TVS Raider 125 | Hero Xtreme 125R | |
| Engine | Air-cooled, 124.58cc, single-cyl | Air-cooled, 125cc, single-cyl | Air-cooled, 125cc, single-cyl |
| Power | 12hp at 8,500rpm | 11.38hp at 7,500rpm | 11.4hp at 8,250rpm |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 96hp/tonne | 92.5hp/tonne | 83.8hp/tonne |
| Torque | 11Nm at 6,000rpm | 11.2Nm at 6,00rpm | 10.5Nm at 6,500rpm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed | 5-speed | 5-speed |
In terms of engine output, all three are neck and neck with no real discernible leg up over one another. These machines, while they may look sporty, are meant to serve as a frugal and inexpensive mode of transportation, first and foremost, so this is understandable. The new kid on the block – Pulsar N125 – has the highest power-to-weight ratio, thanks to its motor being the most powerful and the bike being pretty light.
Bajaj Pulsar N125 vs rivals: weight & dimensions
| Weight & dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bajaj Pulsar N125 | TVS Raider 125 | Hero Xtreme 125R | |
| Kerb Weight | 125kg | 123kg | 136kg |
| Seat Height | 795mm | 780mm | 794mm |
| Fuel Capacity | 9.5 litres | 10 litres | 10 litres |
| Ground Clearance | 198mm | 180mm | 180mm |
| Wheelbase | 1295mm | 1326mm | 1319mm |
Most key dimensions are also quite evenly matched, but each bike does have its own strong points. While the Pulsar and the Raider are pretty neck and neck in terms of weight, the Hero is over 10kg heavier than both, although no bike here is heavy in absolute terms. The Pulsar N125 has an ADV-esque almost 200mm of ground clearance on offer, and despite that, it boasts a low 795mm perch off the ground. It also has the shortest wheelbase, which should, in theory, make it more flickable and agile. The Raider is the lightest bike here and also has the lowest seat height.
Bajaj Pulsar N125 vs rivals: suspension & brakes
| Suspension & brakes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bajaj Pulsar N125 | TVS Raider 125 | Hero Xtreme 125R | |
| Suspension (F/R) | Telescopic fork / Monoshock | Telescopic fork / Monoshock | Telescopic fork / Monoshock |
| Brakes (F/R) | 240mm disc / 130mm drum | 240mm disc / 130mm drum | 276mm disc / 130mm drum |
| Tyres (F/R) | 80/100-17 / 110/80-17 | 80/100-17 / 100/90-17 | 90/90-17 / 120/80-17 |
Budget-friendly commuters aren’t known for having top-flight equipment, and the underpinnings of these three sporty-looking commuters are pretty much par for the course. There’s really no standout feature here other than on the Hero, which is the only bike to have the option of single-channel ABS on the top variant.
Bajaj Pulsar N125 vs rivals: features
Features are another area where these bikes are quite evenly matched. All of these get an LED headlight and tail-light, but the Hero is the only one among them to use LED indicators as well. The Raider’s top variant is the only one to come with a TFT dash, with some nifty Bluetooth features seen on premium bikes. Depending on whether or not this is important to you, the Pulsar N125 can be had in a total of seven colour options, while the Hero and TVS are restricted to three and four colour schemes, respectively.
Bajaj Pulsar N125 vs rivals: price
| Price | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bajaj Pulsar N125 | TVS Raider 125 | Hero Xtreme 125R | |
| Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs 94,707 – Rs 98,707 | Rs 84,839 – Rs 1.04 lakh | Rs 95,000 – Rs 99,500 |
As has been the overarching theme of this story, all bikes are neck and neck, and picking one is going to boil down to nuanced personal factors rather than an outright specification or feature. In terms of price as well, all three are pretty much on par, although the Raider’s TFT variant is above the Rs 1 lakh mark. It is also worth noting that the Raider’s base variant comes with a drum front brake, which explains the delta to the other two in terms of starting price.
